Ronda arrival.

Greetings, devoted devotees.

Today we travelled from Algeciras to the picturesque town of Ronda. The original plan was to take the train, but due to some flooding mishap on the lines buses were substituted instead. OK, so we travelled by bus and in doing so got a very close and personal look at the beautiful Sierra de las Nives mountain range and the UNESCO rated nature reserve. Great views which in many ways reminded me of the highlands in Scotland, all though completely the wrong colour. And vegetation. And shape if the truth be known.

We were dropped off just as the train would have done at Ronda station. Our taxi could not take us to our accomodation however because the street across the gorge had been closed for a public event. They were running a 24 hour bike race and many competitors had come in from all over Europe to participate. I don't know why people do these things to themselves. Walking 100s of K's doing the Camino, running marathons, triathalons and now a 24 hour bike race. Create an event that is likely to physically kill its participants and they flock to it.

We had to manually haul our luggage through the crowded streets to our hotel and checked in. Omigosh. This place is quite amazing. It is a converted palace formerly belonging to the wealthy Zambra family. And frankly it could pass as a palace still in my opinion. It's all done in tones of mahogany and creams, with antiques and originals on the walls. The staff could not be friendlier, even gave me a complimentary beer while we checked in 'cause we looked so frazzled from hauling our luggage around town. They gave us a choice of two rooms in case we didn't want to climb a short staircase to reach the bathroom in one of them. The bathroom in question is up in the former palace tower with panoramic views over most of the Tajo valley. It is enormous, beautifully finished in red marble, has His and Hers washbasins and best of all a jacuzzi. No brainer, we took it.

After some unpacking and a settle in nanna nap we took a short reconnaissance walk around town. Fair dinkum, you can't take a bad photo in this town. It is picture perfect and storybook designed. We took some preliminary photos of the famous Ponte Nuevo bridge across the gorge and some typical street scapes, but we will get into all that more seriously tomorrow.

Piccies below.

Driving through the Sierra de las Nives mountains and UNESCO rated nature reserve. 

Not quite what we had planned but great views just the same.

Some of the craggier peaks in the Sierra de las Nives range.

Reminded me of the Cangorms in Scotland, but entirely the wrong colour.

The picturesque railway station in Ronda, where we arrived by bus.

Our accomodation is to die for.

Egyptian cotton bed linen and antique bureau desk. 

Even the door is hard carved from a single piece.

The bathroom is up a short flight of stairs to the tower.

His and Hers sinks in red marble, if you don't mind.

Our view from the bathroom window over the Tajo gorge and the farmlands beyond.

Glorious.

Yes, that is a jacuzzi in our bathroom.

Just the thing to relax and unwind in after a hard day's touristing.

Notice the monogrammed towels and bath sheets? I just love this place.

 The view from our window over the patio and fountain.

This hotel has only 9 rooms and is the converted palace of the Zambra family.

 The interior is tastefully done in rich mahogany and creams.

The view from our patio over the gorge to the new town area of Ronda on the far side.

Ronda is perched on a cliff top straddling the precipitous Tajo river gorge.

 A shot of the patio with the valley in the background.

Directly behind that railing is a shear drop of several hundred feet to the valley floor far, far below.

Our darling little hotel taken from the street.

That tower at the top is our bathroom.

 The hotel is situated on Calle Tenorio, voted one of the top ten prettiest streets in all of Spain.

It came in at No. 5.

 Tenorio Street meets the main street at the Hemingway bar.

There is a strong connection to Earnest Hemingway who loved Spain generally and Ronda in particular.

 The Ponte Nuevo spans the gorge and joins the old and new parts of Ronda.

An amazing piece of engineering for its time.

The Mirador or lookout on the new town side of the gorge.

Walking through the park we noticed an intoxicating scent.

It was Orange blossom and in full fragrant bloom. Wonderful.

You really can't take a bad photo in this town.

It is just so beautiful everywhere you look.

Turn any corner and it confronts you with a scene demanding a photo.

Coming home down Tenorio street after a lovely meal in the Plaza Don Bosco.

This was taken a bit after 10:00 pm, 'cause they do eat late in Spain.